1Make Intention Before Sleeping
Make sincere niyyah to wake for Tahajjud. "Actions are judged by intentions."
2Wake in Last Third of Night
The best time - when Allah descends to the lowest heaven asking who is calling upon Him.
3Make Wudu
Perform fresh wudu. Using miswak is sunnah.
4Recite Dua for Waking
"Alhamdulillahil-lathee ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushoor"
5Start with 2 Light Rakats
Begin with 2 short rakats to "warm up" as Prophet ﷺ did.
6Pray 2-8 Rakats in Pairs
Minimum 2, up to 8+. Even 2 rakats is immensely rewarding.
7Lengthen Recitation
Recite longer surahs, make long sujood. Take your time.
8Make Dua in Sujood
Closest to Allah is in sujood. Make sincere dua.
9End with Witr
Conclude with 1 or 3 rakats Witr with Dua Qunoot.
10Make Personal Dua
Raise hands and pour your heart out. This is the time of acceptance!
1. When Waking Up
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdulillahil-lathee ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushoor
"All praise to Allah who gave us life after death, and unto Him is the resurrection."
2. Opening of Night Prayer
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
Allahumma lakal-hamd, Anta noorus-samawati wal-ard
"O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and earth."
3. Sayyidul Istighfar
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduk
"O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant."
Whoever says this with conviction enters Jannah - Bukhari
4. For Guidance (Qunoot)
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ
Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt, wa 'afini feeman 'afayt
"O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me wellness among those You granted wellness."
5. For Forgiveness
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ
Rabbighfir li wa tub 'alayya innaka antat-Tawwabul-Ghafoor
"My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. You are the Accepting of Repentance."
6. Rabbana Dua
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar
"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the Fire."
Most frequent dua of Prophet ﷺ - Quran 2:201
7. In Sujood
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahummaghfir li
"Glory be to You, O Allah our Lord, and praise be to You. O Allah, forgive me."
8. For Protection
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabi jahannam, wa min 'adhabil-qabr
"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from Hell and from the punishment of the grave."
9. For Knowledge
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidni 'ilma
"My Lord, increase me in knowledge." - Quran 20:114
10. For Steadfastness
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا
Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba'da idh hadaytana
"Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us."
11. For Parents
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ
Rabbighfir li wa liwalidayya
"My Lord, forgive me and my parents." - Quran 14:41
12. For Anxiety
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan
"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief."
13. Comprehensive Dua
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
Allahumma aslih li deeni alladhi huwa 'ismatu amri
"O Allah, set right my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs."
14. Before Salam
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا
Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman katheeran
"O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly and none forgives sins but You."
Prophet ﷺ taught Abu Bakr this dua
15. For Patience
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا
Rabbana afrigh 'alayna sabran
"Our Lord, pour upon us patience." - Quran 2:250
1. Tasbeeh (33x)
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
SubhanAllah - "Glory be to Allah"
2. Tahmeed (33x)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdulillah - "All praise is due to Allah"
3. Takbeer (34x)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar - "Allah is the Greatest"
4. Tahleel
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ
La ilaha illAllahu wahdahu la shareeka lah
"There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner."
Say 10x = freeing 10 slaves!
5. Istighfar (3x)
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Astaghfirullah - "I seek forgiveness from Allah"
6. Full Istighfar
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullaha al-'Azeema alladhi la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom wa atoobu ilayh
Forgiven even if fled from battle
7. Salawat on Prophet ﷺ
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad
8. Darood Ibrahim
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad... kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahim
Most complete form of salawat
9. Hawqala
لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
"No power except with Allah"
Treasure from Paradise
10. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (100x)
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih
Sins forgiven even if like sea foam
11. Light on Tongue
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-'Azeem
Light on tongue, heavy on scales, beloved to Allah
12. Ayatul Kursi
اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ...
Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom...
Greatest ayah - Quran 2:255
13. Last 3 Surahs
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ... قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ... قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
3x after Fajr/Maghrib, 1x after other prayers
14. Tasbeeh Fatimah
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (٣٣) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (٣٣) اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (٣٤)
Better than a servant - taught to Fatimah RA
15. For Steadfastness
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik
"Help me remember, thank, and worship You well."
For Longer Recitation
Al-Baqarah 2:255-257 - Ayatul Kursi
Al-Imran 3:190-200 - Prophet ﷺ recited when waking
Al-Mulk (67) - Protection from grave
As-Sajdah (32) - Prophet ﷺ wouldn't sleep without it
Yasin (36) - Heart of Quran
Al-Waqi'ah (56) - Protection from poverty
For Shorter Prayer
Al-Kafirun (109)
Al-Ikhlas (112) - Equal to 1/3 Quran
Al-Falaq (113)
An-Nas (114)
Ad-Duha (93)
Al-Inshirah (94)
1Sleep EarlyProphet ﷺ disliked sleeping before Isha and talking after it.
2Make Sincere IntentionAsk Allah sincerely to wake you up.
3Avoid Heavy MealsDon't eat heavy food close to bedtime.
4Sleep with WuduIf you wake up, you can pray immediately.
5Sleep AdhkarAyatul Kursi, last verses of Baqarah, 3 Quls.
6Alarm Away from BedForce yourself to get up to turn it off.
7Accountability PartnerWake each other up for Tahajjud.
8Start SmallBegin with just 2 rakats. Consistency beats quantity.
9Remember the RewardAllah is waiting to answer your duas!
10Avoid SinsSins make waking for Tahajjud difficult.
